BBC Learning English
Video Words in the News
31 July 2013
Shark-proof divers
Transcript:
Few would want to end up in the jaws of a hungry shark.
So, how to avoid becoming fish food?
Two Australian businessmen have designed wetsuits which they say are
shark-repellent.
This blue and white model might help divers to blend in; the black and
white version may make the creature think they are unsafe to eat.
The research follows a spate of attacks.
Vocabulary:
to end up
to finally be in a particular situation
wetsuits
clothing made of rubber used by divers to keep warm in the sea
repellent
designed to keep something away from it
to blend in
to look or seem like people or things around you
a spate of
a number of similar bad events happening in a short space of time
Watch the video online: Shark-proof divers http://bbc.in/16eFwHi
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Exercise:
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from
news reports.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence
correctly.
to end up / wetsuits / repellent / to blend in / a spate of
1. Scientists say they have isolated the natural chemicals which make some
people smell unpleasant to mosquitoes. The team is not naming the
chemicals involved but hopes a new generation of natural insect ________
may follow.
2. Many of the UK's first postboxes were painted green, __________ with the
landscape.
3. Nathan Sharp wanted to buy a pair of skis, but it was September and he
knew the skis might __________ gathering dust and taking up space in his
closet until the ski season started in December.
4. The challenge he set himself was a total of 40 swims in a year - with at
least two in each month of the year. All had to be completed without a
_________. Water temperatures have varied between 35F and 68F (2C and
20C).
5. A team of "Guardian Angels" are to patrol the streets of Luton following
__________ violent crime in the town. The volunteer anti-crime
organisation wants people to form units to help "vulnerable" people in their
own communities.
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Answers:
1. Scientists say they have isolated the natural chemicals which make some
people smell unpleasant to mosquitoes. The team is not naming the
chemicals involved but hopes a new generation of natural insect repellents
may follow.
Source: Hope for natural insect repellent
http://bbc.in/17b4u7m
2. Many of the UK's first postboxes were painted green, to blend in with the
landscape.
Source: Golden postboxes to keep their sheen to honour British athletes
http://bbc.in/TqhGxK
3. Nathan Sharp wanted to buy a pair of skis, but it was September and he
knew the skis might end up gathering dust and taking up space in his closet
until the ski season started in December.
Source: Timing is everything: Working out when to buy online
http://bbc.in/15j6X1t
4. The challenge he set himself was a total of 40 swims in a year - with at least
two in each month of the year. All had to be completed without a wetsuit.
Water temperatures have varied between 35F and 68F (2C and 20C).
Source: Essex University lecturer Iain Keenan in 'swim commute'
http://bbc.in/16uihpd
5. A team of "Guardian Angels" are to patrol the streets of Luton following a
spate of violent crime in the town. The volunteer anti-crime organisation
wants people to form units to help "vulnerable" people in their own
communities.
Source: 'Guardian Angels' plan for Luton patrols
http://bbc.in/12jvkJ3
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com